also: えきが
noun
axillary bud; lateral bud
Botanical term for a bud that forms in the axil of a leaf. The reading えきが is technical; わきめ is more common in everyday gardening.
トマトの脇芽は早めに摘み取るといい。
It's good to pinch off tomato axillary buds early.
noun
side shoot; sucker; side bud
Commonly used in gardening for unwanted shoots that grow from the base or leaf joints of plants like tomatoes and broccoli.
ブロッコリーのわき芽も食べられます。
You can also eat broccoli side shoots.
Technical botanical term read えきが; rarely used in everyday language.
Compound of 脇 (わき, 'side') + 芽 (め, 'bud'). The reading えきが for 腋芽 is the on'yomi reading of the kanji, used in technical botanical contexts.